“Apart from Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5 We depend on things each morning as we begin our day: the alarm to wake us, the coffee pot to start brewing, hot water from the shower head, and our car to start. How is it that, for many of us, the God that determines our next breath is an afterthought? Each morning, we stand at the trailhead of our day. Will we rely on God’s direction or opt...
“If you love Me, keep My commands.” — John 14:15 Walking life’s trails eventually reveals what kind of walker you are. Your own determination, strength, and persistence do not guarantee you’ll reach the trail’s end safely. Some trails are wide and forgiving. Others narrow quickly and demand attention. In the same way, a disciple discovers early that hearing God’s Word is...
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17 As Boy Scouts, we learned several lessons while hiking together. We kept an eye on the slower hikers, learned leadership by taking the point, learned accountability by keeping everyone on the trail, learned brotherhood by sharing stories of the experiences, and learned communication skills that kept everyone safe. When men...
Do you see kindness as a weakness—or controlled strength in action? God’s word and the world are at direct odds in their definitions. God’s word sees kindness as essential; it reflects God’s heart. The world considers kindness as optional—something you do when the mood strikes or when you feel good. God’s word sees kindness as a strength, while the world sees it as a...
Goodness doesn’t trend. It doesn’t get shared, reposted, or noticed. Moral excellence may be a definition for goodness that sounds more familiar. The world defines moral excellence by reputation. God describes it as righteousness. True goodness is integrity in motion—doing what’s right when no one’s keeping score. The world says, a man with integrity pays his taxes on time, treats people fairly...
The world treats faithfulness as conditional, situational, and often negotiable. Faithfulness, in modern culture, lasts only as long as it’s convenient—as long as the effort is paying dividends. I’m writing this post in December, as end-of-year conversations start to lean toward New Year’s resolutions, I thought I’d gather a few facts on faithfulness. Drive Research reports that...
We may have similar definitions for these three terms, so, to keep things straight, the Bible defines Kindness as compassion in action, Goodness as moral integrity and righteous action, and Gentleness as strength under control. The world teaches men that gentleness is a weakness. God’s word tells us gentleness (reasonableness) is power under control. When Paul wrote, “Let your gentleness be...
Do you see self-control as restriction—or real freedom? The world and God’s Word couldn’t be further apart on what it means to be free. The world says, “Do what feels good.” God says, “Do what is right.” The world celebrates indulgence; God calls it discipline. The world defines freedom as doing whatever you want. God defines it as living under His control. The world sees restraint as weakness...
The Fruit of the Spirit isn’t a list of behaviors to achieve — it’s the evidence of Who’s in control. We hear about the Fruit of the Spirit all the time in church, but many guys don’t know what it looks like when these behaviors are applied to their lives, at work, when problems arise, when they are tempted, in their role as husband or dad, or when no one is watching. Why this matters...
The world tells men joy is a byproduct of achievement. Climb faster. Be stronger. Earn more, then you’ll be happy. That form of joy is momentary. One misstep, one weakness, one layoff, and a man’s world comes crashing down. The world says joy is pleasure. “If it feels good, do it.” It also says, “Look for comfort, enjoyment, entertainment—the high is all that matters...